Slimes-washer.



PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904- LRPORTBR. SLIMES WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 15, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

Illllllil 9 i #Wt/770i Y Zmfipafkf UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904-..

PATENT EEICE.

SLINIES-WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 773,221, dated October 25, 1904.

Application filed February 15, 1904. Serial No. 193,533. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom 2315 may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS E. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camp Rochester, (post-office address Stagg) in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented a new and useful Slimesll'asher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for washing pulp or slimes; and one object of the invention is to provide means whereby a positive and practically perfect distribution of the medium used for washing is effected throughout the charge Within the tank.

I employ compressed air applied in a most effective manner to stir up and agitate the contents of the tank by-a rotating distributer and utilize the same device for introducing fresh wash-water and displacing the solution carrying the values. This is the main object of the invention and I regard this feature as broadly new.

The accompanying' drawing illustrates the invention, and the ligure in the drawingillustrates a vertical section taken diametrically through the apparatus.

1 designates the tank for containing the charge, and arranged around the upper edge of the tank is an annular trough or launder 2, while a pervious material 3 is lapped over the upper edge of the tank, as shown. This pervious material may comprise gunny-sacking tacked in place. Y

A vertical tubular shaft 4 extends through the center of the tank and is supported at the bottom by a step-bearing 5 and near the top of the tank by a spider 6.` The tubular shaft @L carries at-its lower end a pair of pipe-arms 7, each of which communicates with the space within the shaft 4, and the arms 7 extend nearly to the walls of the tank l, but freely clear the same and are provided along their lower sides with orifices 8. The upper end of the tubular shaft 4 iies within a stuiiingbox 9 and through the medium thereof communicates with a stationary pipe 10, having a T l1, from which branch a water-pipe 12 and a pipe for supplying compressed air 13. Valves 14: and l5 are provided for the respective water and air pipes. A gear 16 is mounted on the tubular shaft 4 and meshes with a pinion 17 on a horizontal shaft 18. A dischargepipe 19 leads from the lower part of the tank 1- and is provided With a valve 20.

vIn operation the slimes and solution are introduced into the tank l and compressed air is admitted through the pipe 13 and its connections to the shaft 4 and issues through the oriiices 8 in the radial main pipe 7, while the tubular shaft is revolved through the medium of th e gearing at a low rate of speedmfor instance, about six revolutions a minute. As the pipes 7 Y sweep around underneath the charge the compressed air issues therefrom and works upward through the entire mass of the charge, throwing the charge into a state of ebullition, which brings the solution containing the cyanid into intimate contact with the slimes, and the values are thus liberated. After agitating the contents in this manner for the required length of time the supply of compressed air is shut off by means of the valve 15, and the valve 14 is opened, which admits clear water into the tubular shaft 4 through the described connections, and the water issues through the orifices 8 down into the tank 1 and gradually works its way up through the charge in the tank and displaces the rich solution. The pure Water gradually accumulates in the tank and its level gradually rises, displacing the rich solution, which iiows over the upper edge of the tank and into the launder. The pure Water is admitted at a rate to cause the rich solution to percolate over the edge of the tank and through the pervious material 3, and the capillarity of this pervious material assists in the discharge of the rich solution and at the same time acts as a filter. The fresh water comes into the tank slowly and suffices to keep the level of the discharging rich solution merely at the upper edge of the tank, so that IOO is thus displaced and passes over the edge of the tank, filtering through the gunny-saeking 3, and the eapillarity of the latter helps to draw the solution over the edge of the tank. When the solution has been removed, the valve 2O may be opened, so that the slimes Will flow out from the tank, leaving' the tank free for a fresh Charge.

The gradual revolution of the shaft 4:,sweeping the arms 7 around, causes a positive and uniform distribution ofd either the air or the water throughout the eharge, and this is a very valuable feature.

NV hat l Claim isl. A tank, and a pervious material disposed annularly around the upper edge of the tank and folded over the edge.

2. A tank for containing the Charge, a pervious material around the upper edge of the tank, and a rotary distributer in the tank.

3. A tank, a pervious material disposed annularly around the upper edge of the tank and folded over the edge, and an annular trough at the upper edge of the tank adjacent the pervious material.

4. A tank, a pervious material around the upper edge of the tank, an annular trough at the upper edge of the tank adjacent the pervious material, and a rotary distributer in the tank.

5. A tank, a tubular shaft in the tank, a spider on the tank supporting the shaft, a stutlng-box at the upper end of the shaft, an air-pipe and a Water-pipe connected With the stuffing-box, suitable gearing for revolving the shaft, a perforated pipe-arm attached to the shaft, a pervious material on the upper edge of the tank, and an annular trough for receiving the solution from the pervious material.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speeiiieation, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 8th day of February, 1904.

LEWIS E. PORTER.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE T. HAGKLEY, FREDERICK S. LYON. 

